Anaerobic degradation of perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) in biosolids by acidimicrobium sp. Strain A6
Abstract
Anaerobic incubations were performed with biosolids obtained from an industrial wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) that contained perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), and with per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances- (PFAS) free, laboratory-generated, biosolids that were spiked with PFOA. Biosolid slurries were incubated for 150 days as is, after augmenting with either Acidimicrobium sp. Strain A6 or ferrihydrite, or with both, Acidimicrobium sp. Strain A6 and ferrihydrite. Autoclaved controls were run in parallel. Only the biosolids augmented with both, Acidimicrobium sp. Strain A6 and ferrihydrite showed a decrease in the PFOA concentration, in excess of 50% (total, dissolved, and solid associated). Higher concentrations of PFOA in the biosolids spiked with PFOA and no previous PFAS exposure allowed to track the production of fluoride to verify PFOA defluorination. The buildup of fluoride over the incubation time was observed in these biosolid incubations spiked with PFOA. A significant increase in the concentration of perfluoroheptanoic acid (PFHpA) over the incubations of the filter cake samples from the industrial WWTP was observed, indicating the presence of a non-identified precursor in these biosolids. Results show that anaerobic incubation of PFAS contaminated biosolids, after augmentation with Fe(III) and Acidimicrobium sp. Strain A6 can result in PFAS defluorination.
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Over 50% degradation of PFOA occurred in biosolids with Acidimicrobium sp. A6 and ferrihydrite, with fluoride production.
“Over 50 % degradation in biosolids with A6 and ferrihydrite (TPs: PFBA, PFPeA, PFHxA, PFHpA), F− production”
From A review of microbial degradation of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS): Biotransformation routes and enzymes (2023) · cites this paper as Huang et al., 2022
Acidimicrobium sp. strain A6 biotransforms PFOA and PFOS.
“Acidimicrobium sp. strain A6 (A6) for PFOA and PFOS (Huang and Jaffé, 2019; Huang et al., 2022; Ruiz-Urigüen et al., 2022)”
From A review of microbial degradation of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS): Biotransformation routes and enzymes (2023) · cites this paper as Huang et al., 2022
Reports on biodegradation and defluorination of widely distributed C8 perfluoroalkyl compounds (PFOA and PFOS) are very limited.
“Although several examples of biodegradation of PFAS classes such as fluorotelomer-based chemicals exist, reports on biodegradation and defluorination of widely distributed C8 perfluoroalkyl compounds (PFOA and PFOS) are very limited (Huang and Jaffé, 2019; Huang et al., 2022).”
From A review of microbial degradation of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS): Biotransformation routes and enzymes (2023) · cites this paper as Huang et al., 2022
There are limited examples of defluorination of PFAS compounds.
“there are limited examples of defluorination of PFAS compounds (Huang and Jaffé, 2019; Huang et al., 2022; Yu et al., 2020, 2022).”
From A review of microbial degradation of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS): Biotransformation routes and enzymes (2023) · cites this paper as Huang et al., 2022
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Investigating the biodegradability of perfluorooctanoic acid
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Aerobic biotransformation of fluorotelomer compounds in landfill leachate-sediment
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Forever Chemicals, Per-and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS), in Lubrication
Dias, D., Bons, J., Kumar, A., Kabir, M., & Liang, H. (2024) · Lubricants · doi:10.3390/lubricants12040114 · Cited by 64 · see citing works
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- Authors
- Huang, S., Sima, M., Long, Y., Messenger, C., & Jaffé, P. R.
- Affiliations
- Princeton University (US)
- Chemours (United States) (US)
- Corresponding author
- Jaffé, Peter R.
- Venue
- Journal of Hazardous Materials
- Publisher
- Elsevier BV
- Published
- 2022-02
- Volume
- 424
- Issue
- Pt D
- Pages
- 127699
- ISSN
- 0304-3894 (ISSN-L)
- OpenAlex
- W3214204079
- Cited by
- 102
- References
- 7
- Citations by year
- 2026: 27 · 2025: 29 · 2024: 19 · 2023: 18 · 2022: 9
- FWCI
- 4.35
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Licence
- Locations
- Journal of Hazardous Materials (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Funders
- Princeton University
- Topics
- Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Environmental Chemistry › Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances research
- Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Pollution › Microbial bioremediation and biosurfactants
- Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Environmental Chemistry › Environmental Chemistry and Analysis
- Keywords
- perfluorooctanoic acid, PFOA degradation, anaerobic biodegradation, biosolids, ferrihydrite, PFHpA, bioremediation
- MeSH terms
- Biosolids, Anaerobiosis, Caprylates, Ferric Compounds, Fluorocarbons
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